Air conditioning apparatus



Och 6 1953 J. A. GALAzzl AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 559. f 0 ZZ Patented Oct. 6, 1953 OFFICE Ara CONDITIONING APPARATUS Joseph ARGalam, Evansville, Ina., mignotte International Harvester Company,

tion of New Jersey Application August 5, 1950, Serial No. 177,919 Claims. (Cl. 62-140) This invention relates generally to air conditioning apparatus and more particularly to air conditioning apparatus -of the type which controis the moisture content of the air within enclosed spaces.

There are many types of air conditioning units on the market today but most of these operate to cool and de-humidify the air within homes and oices and are usually quite large and heavy and, after once being installed, are seldom moved about. In many instances excessive moisture content oi' the air within closets, basements, shops and other enclosed places is encountered where there is no need for cooling the air. Therefore, a small portable de-humidier unit is desirable which will operate to reduce the moisture content of the air within these enclosed places without lowering the temperature of the air. A unit of this type would also be valuable during the winter months if it were equipped with means for humidifying the air in rooms, ofiices and the like which are heated by artificial means so that there is a deficiency of moisture in the air.

One object of the present invention is to provide a light-weight portable unit which can be easily installed and moved about in houses and oitices by a single person and which is so constructed and arranged that.` it will operate to circulate and filter the air, or circulate and humidify the air, or circulate and de-humidify the air. l

Another object is to provide a novel means oi de-humidifying the air by passing part of the air to be conditioned into contactv with the condenser of a compressor-condenser-evaporator refrigerating system and another part into contact with the evaporator. The evaporator will cool the air and condense moisture therefrom while the condenser will heat the air. The overall effect to the air will be a very slight rise in dry bulb temperature with a substantial decrease in moisture content.

Still another object is to provide novel means of humidifying the air to be conditioned by spraying Water over the surfaces of a condenser and evaporator and circulating the air over said surfaces.

A further object is to provide an air conditioning unit with removable water receptacles which will act as water collectors? during dehumidification of the air and as water suppliers during the humidication of the air, thus providing a simple and inexpensive construction which obviates the need for plumbing connections.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specifications taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view takenalong line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the unit with a portion of the outer casing'broken away.

Referring to the drawing the unit is generally designated by reference figure III and comprises a suitable frame consisting of vertical L-shaped angle members II secured to the corners of a i flat horizontal plate or base I2. A decorative outer casing I3- having side walls Il and I5 and end walls I6 and II1 is secured to the vertical members II, and a removable cover or top I8 fits over the top edges of the walls. Theframe and casing may be made from a light-weight metal, such as aluminum, so as to provide a compact light-weight unit which may be moved about easily by one person. Handles 8| are provided on each the unit.

Two vertical partitions I9 and 20 are secured to base I2 and divide the space above base I2 into two air passageways 2| and 22 and a mixing chamber 23. Passageway 2| is provided with an air inlet 24 in end wall IB and an air outlet' 25 in partition I9 into mixing chamber 23. Passageway 22 is provided with an air inlet 26 in end wall Il and an air outlet 21 in. partition 20 into mixing chamber 23. Mixing chamber 23is provided with an air outlet 28 and blower wheels 29 and 30 positioned adjacent the air outlets 25 and 21 respectively which are driven by an electric motor 3I. When this electric motor is operating, the blower wheels will pull air through inlets 24 and 26, passageway/s 2l' and 22, into mixing chamber 23 and Lout the air outlet 28.

.Air inlets 24 and 26 are provided with horizontal vanes 32 which direct the incoming air in substantially horizontal streams into the interior of the casing. The air outlet' is provided with vanes 33, 34 and 35 arranged at angles to each other so 'as to direct the outcoming air in several directions. Filters- 36 and 31 are placed adjacent air inlets 24 and 26 respectively in order to iilter out dust, pollen and other impurities in the air.

A refrigerant circulating system comprising a motor-compressor unit 38, a condenser 39 and evaporator 40 is provided within casing I3. The condenser is positioned within passageway 2I adjacent air inlet 24 and is secured to base I2. The evaporator is positioned within passageway 22 adjacent air inlet 26` and is secured to base I2. The motor-compressor unit is also positioned in passageway 22 between the evaporator and condenser -end wall to facilitate lifting refrigerant gas is returned through conduit 43 to the motor-compressor 38.

Below base |2 are positioned receptacles or pans 44 and 45 which are slidably mounted on L- shaped horizontally extending channels 46 and 41. Channel 46 is secured to vertical member Il adjacent wall I5. Channel 41 is secured to the vertical members adjacent wall i4. Pan 44 extends through an opening in end wall I6 and is provided with handle 48 to facilitate sliding the pan out. Pan 45 extends through an opening in,

end wall |1 and is' provided with handle 49 to facilitate sliding the pan out. Positioned adjacent evaporator 40 is a drain pipe 50 which extends through base |2 and through which Water will drain into pan 45. A similar drain pipe 5| is provided adjacent condenser 39 through which.

water will drain into pan 44. An overflow pipe 52 is secured near the top of pan 45 and extends into pan 44. A water pump 53 is positioned near drive shaft 54 which is driven by an electric motor 55 mounted on base i2 in passageway 2|. A flexible tubing 56 runs from the pump 53 to an elbow 51. Spray headers 58 and 59 are located abovei condenser 39 and evaporator 4|l`respectively and lhave nozzles 50 which are directed toward the condenser and evaporator surfaces. Conduits 6| and 62 connect the spray headers to elbow 51. When the electric motor 55 is running it will drive pump 53 which supplies water to the spray headers 58 and 59. The nozzles 6|! of these spray headers will direct streams of water onto the surfaces of the condenser 39 and evaporator 4u. Since thev drive shaft 54 and tubing 56 are flexible, the pump 53 can be lifted in order to allow removal of pan For controlling the operation of the unit, a knob 63 is located on the exterior of the casing I3. This knob is mechanically connected to the conductor arm 64 of selector switch 65. Conductors 66 and 61 supply current to the unit from a suitable power source (not shown). Conductor 61 is electrically connected with conductor arm 64.'

One terminal of pump motor 55 is connected to conductor 6B by conductor 68 and the other terminal is connected to contact point 69 by conductor 10. One terminal of fan motor 3| is connectedlto conductor 65 by conductor 1| and the other terminal is connected to contact point 12 by conductor 13. One terminal of compressor motor 38 is connected Vto conductor -66 by conductor 14 and the other terminal is connected by conductor 15 to contact point 161. Jumper lead 11 connects contact points 12 and 18, and jumper lead 19 connects contact points 12 and 80. When conductor arm 54 is positioned to engage contact point 12, the fan motor 3| will be energized. When conductor arm 64 is positioned to engage contact points 69 and 80,' the fan motor 3| and pump motor 55 will be energized. When confductor arm 64 is positioned to engage contact points 16 and 18, the fan motor 3| and compressor motor 38 will be energized.

The vunit may either be placed in the enclosed the bottom of pan 44 and is secured to a exible space which is to be conditioned or may be located outside the space with suitable means for connecting air inlet 24 and 23' and air outlets 28 to the enclosed space. The operation'o the unit will be controlled by knob 63. When the conductor arm is positioned in engagement with contact 12, the Ian motor alone will operate and air will be circulated through both air inlet 24 and air in let 26, through ltering elements 36 and 31, into mixing chamber 23 and then out through air outlet 28. In this operation, the unit will serve to circulate the air in the room and illter out pollen, 'dust and like impurities.

When conductor arm 64 is positioned in engagement with contact points 16 and 18, the compressor motor and fan motor will operate and the unit will de-humidlfy the air to be conditioned. Part of the air will be circulated thr ugh inlet 26 and over the evaporator 40 where it will be cooled below its dew point thus causing some of the moisture of the air to be condensed out. This condensate is drained through drain pipe 5|l\into pan 45. After passing over the evaporator. the air ilows over the compressor 33 and into mixing chamber 23. This cooled air will cool the compressor so as to maintain the compressors temperature within a desirable range. Another part of the air will pass through air inlet 24 and over the condenser 39 where it will be heated. This air will then flow into mixing chamber 23 where it will be mixed with the air which was circulated over the evaporator and then forced out throughair outlet 28. In this operation a considerable 'amount of moisture will be removed from the air.

The temperature of the air will also be raised slightly due to the heat generated by the refrigerant circulating system which will cause further cie-humidication of the air.

When conductor arm 54 is positioned in engagement with contactpoints 69 and 80, the unit will operate to humidity the air. Fan motor 3| and pump motor 55 will operate. Pump 53 will force water from pan 44 through spray headers 58 and 59 into the surfaces of condenser 39 and evaporator 40. Blower wheels 29 and 36 will pull air through air inlets 24 and 26 respectively and over the condenser and evaporator. Some of the I water will be vaporized into the air thus causing an increase in relative humidity. Pan 44 may be removed for i'lllin'g or any other suitable means may be used for supplying water to the pan.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a unit is provided in which the air to be conditioned is circulated in contact with the evaporator and condenser of a refrigerant circulating system in a novel manner. The unit will operate to circulate and filter the air, circulate and de-humidify the air or circulate and humidify the air. The unit is small, compact and light so that it can be economically and conveniently installed in offices and dwelling houses and can be easily moved about by a. single person.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the speelde structure herein shown and described, but that it may be varied in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

`1. In an air conditioning unit for controlling lthe moisture content of air within an enclosure,

which passes over said refrigerant evaporating means, and means for spraying water over the surfaces of said refrigerant evaporating means and said refrigerant condensing means.

2. In an air conditioning unit for controlling the moisture content of air within an enclosure, a casing having separate passagewaysA therethrough, each passageway having an inlet and an outlet connected to said enclosure, a refrigerant circulating system including a compressor, condenser and evaporator, said condenser positioned in one of said passageways, said evaporator positioned in another of said passageways, means for circulating air from said enclosure through said passageways into contact with said condenser and said evaporator, means for collecting the water which condenses from the air as it is cooled by said evaporator, 'and means for spraying water over the surfaces of said condenser and said evaporator.

3. In an air conditioning unit for controlling the moisture content of air within an enclosure, a casing having separate passageways therethrough, each passageway having an inlet and an outlet connected to an enclosure which is to be conditioned, a refrigerant circulating system including a compressor, condenser and evaporator,

said condenser positioned in one of said passageways, said evaporator positioned in another of said passageways, fan means for circulating air from said enclosure through said passageways into contact with said condenser and said evaporator, a receptacle for collecting water condensed from the air when cooled by the evaporator, pump means for spraying water over the condenser and evaporator, and control means for selectively operating the fan means alone, the fan means and pump means simultaneously or the fan means andA refrigerant circulating system simultaneously.

4. In an air conditioning unit for controlling the moisture content of air within an enclosure, a refrigerant circulating system including a compressor, condenser and evaporator, means for circulating the air into contact with the condenser and evaporator, pump means located in a receptacle, means for supplying water to said receptacle, and spray headers connected to said pump means and positioned so as to spray water over the surfaces of said condenser and evaporator.

5. In an air conditioning unit for controlling the moisture content of air Within an enclosure, a refrigerant circulating system including a compressor, condenser and evaporator, means for circulating the air into contact with the condenser and evaporator, receptacle means located under said evaporator and said condenser, drain means from said evaporator and condenser into said receptacle means, means for supplying water to said receptacle means, nozzles directed toward said condenser and evaporator, and means for pumping water from said receptacle through said nozzles onto said condenser and evaporator.

6. In an air conditioning unit for controlling the moisture content of air within an enclosure, a casing having a first passageway, second passageway and third passageway, a refrigerant condenser secured in said ilrst passageway, a refrigerant evaporator secured in said third passageway, said first passageway having an inlet into said enclosure adjacent said condenser and an outlet into said second passageway, said third passageway having an inlet into said enclosure adjacent said evaporator and an outlet into said second passageway, said second passageway having fan means secured therein and anoutlet connected to said enclosure, said fan means operating to pull air through both inlets into contact with said evaporator and condenser and into said second passageway, and then exhausting it into said enclosure through said outlet, means for draining lwater from said rst passageway and said second passageway, and means for spraying Water onto the surfaces of the evaporator and condenser.

7. In air conditioning unit construction a rectangularly shaped casing, two substantially vertical walls mounted to divide said casing into three horizontally aligned chambers, each of said vertical walls having an opening therein, each side of the sides of said casing in horizontal alignment with said vertical walls having an opening therein, one of the end chambers of said three chambers being a condenser cham,

ber having a condenser therein mounted between said openings therein, the other of the end chambers of said three chambers being an evaporator chamber having an evaporator therein mounted between said openings therein, the middle of said three chambers being a mixing chamber having an opening disposed in the top thereof, fan means mounted within said mixing chamber adjacent said openings in said vertical walls for drawing air from said condenser chamber and said evaporator chamber simultaneously into said mixing chamber, whereby said air may be mixed after being drawn into said mixing chamber, whereby additional air may be simultaneously drawn into said condenser chamber fand said evaporator chamber through said openings in said sides of said casing, and whereby the air mixed in said mixing chamber is forced therefrom.

8. In a construction as claimed in claim 7, said casing including compressor means interconnecting said condenser and said evaporator, motor means for the operation of said compressor means and said fan means, and a pair of handles mounted to the outer surface of said casing, whereby said construction is portable as a complete air conditioning unit exclusive of power for said motor means.

9. In a construction as claimed in claim 7, air filters mounted within said end chambers between said openings in said lsides of said casing and said condenser and said compressor, whereby any air drawn through said openings in said sides of said casing will be filtered.

10. In a construction as claimed in claim 7, an open ended chamber mounted as an extension of said casing beneath said casing, a drain opening disposed in the bottom of said condenser chamber, and a removable pan mounted within said open ended chamber, whereby any condensate forming on said condenser will drainfrom said condenser, through said drain opening and into said removable pan.

JOSEPH GALAZZI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

